Agent centre: clearing and forwarding agent requirements

• Customs clearing agent licence

  What it is

  Licence to clear goods for importers and exporters ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Legal basis

  EAC Customs Management Act. The TRA licensing page writes 2023 ¹. The TRA agent page writes 2004 ²

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Licence period

  What it is

  Twelve months from issue, per the undated licensing page read on 24 October 2026 ¹. Calendar year, 1 January to 31 December, per the undated agent page headed with the 2024 list and read on 24 October 2026 ²

  Issued or run by

  TRA ^1,2

  Legal basis

  EAC Customs Management Act, written as 2023 on the licensing page ¹ and 2004 on the agent page ²

  Official page

  https://tra.go.tz/index.php/clearing-forwading-agents ²

• Online application in TANCIS

  What it is

  New and renewal applications are submitted online ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Company password, form F-ITD-067-B

  What it is

  New applicants get a company password with this form ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Application form C.20

  What it is

  Application signed by a director, with the general documents ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Application fee

  What it is

  US$50, non-refundable, for new and renewal applications ^1,2

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Licence fee

  What it is

  US$400, paid by a company that passes the interview ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Customs bond

  What it is

  TZS 100,000,000, executed after passing the examination. Renewals give a guarantor letter ^1,2

  Issued or run by

  TRA, through a guarantor ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Qualified clearance staff

  What it is

  At least two staff with a customs diploma or certificate, or five years of customs experience ¹

  Issued or run by

  Required by TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• EACFFPC

  What it is

  East African Customs Clearing and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate, required for the interviewee ¹

  Issued or run by

  Required by TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Written interview

  What it is

  Interview for a director or permanent staff member. Shortlisted firms are told through TANCIS and public notice ^1,2

  Issued or run by

  TRA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Sworn declaration

  What it is

  Before a Commissioner for Oaths: no revoked-licence directors in five years, no TRA staff as directors or shareholders, 24/7 service, no control of a shipping agency ¹

  Issued or run by

  Applicant, sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• General company documents

  What it is

  TIN certificates, tax clearance, incorporation papers, director IDs and photos, BRELA letter and an office able to connect to TANCIS ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA, BRELA ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• TASAC registration certificate

  What it is

  Certificate of registration for clearing and forwarding, needed for renewal ^1,2

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Association membership

  What it is

  Proof of membership of a recognised clearing and forwarding association, needed for renewal ^1,2

  Issued or run by

  Recognised association ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• Agent duties

  What it is

  Advise importers on procedures, lodge proper documents and keep records as the law requires ²

  Issued or run by

  Licensed agent ²

  Legal basis

  EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 ²

  Official page

  https://tra.go.tz/index.php/clearing-forwading-agents ²

• Duty to use an agent

  What it is

  Importers must appoint a licensed agent to clear goods ⁵

  Issued or run by

  TRA ⁵

  Legal basis

  EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 ⁵

  Official page

  https://tra.go.tz/page/import-procedures ⁵

• Yearly list of licensed agents

  What it is

  TRA publishes a list of licensed agents. TPA tells customers to choose from the list for the year ^2,3

  Issued or run by

  TRA ²

  Official page

  https://tra.go.tz/index.php/clearing-forwading-agents ²

• TeSWS portal

  What it is

  Tanzania told the WTO that all agents are registered and use the TeSWS portal to process clearances ⁴

  Issued or run by

  TRA ⁴

  Official page

  https://tfadatabase.org/members/tanzania/technical-assistance-projects/article-10-4 ⁴

• TePP port payment portal

  What it is

  Agents upload the bill of lading, delivery order and release order to get a TPA invoice with a control number ³

  Issued or run by

  Tanzania Ports Authority ³

  Official page

  https://www.ports.go.tz/index.php/en/services/port-process/import-process ³

• Port clearance by agents

  What it is

  Cargo owners give shipping documents to a registered agent, who lodges them with TPA and TRA ⁶

  Issued or run by

  Tanzania Ports Authority ⁶

  Official page

  https://www.ports.go.tz/index.php/en/faq ⁶

• Transporter licence under customs control

  What it is

  Licence for each carrying unit on form C.28 or C.40 at US$200, with a TZS 10,000,000 or TZS 50,000,000 bond and a LATRA carrier licence ¹

  Issued or run by

  TRA, LATRA ¹

  Legal basis

  EAC Customs Management Regulations 2010 ¹

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz/page/customs-licencing ¹

• 2027 licence applications

  What it is

  TRA public notice dated 30 September 2026 inviting applications for customs licences for 2027. Status: announced ⁷

  Issued or run by

  TRA ⁷

  Official page

  https://www.tra.go.tz ⁷

• TASAC registration of clearing and forwarding agents

  What it is

  The Corporation must register shippers, shipping agents and clearing and forwarding agents, under section 12(1)(k) ⁸

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, 2017, Cap. 415 ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/pages/maritime-transport-regulation ¹¹

• Goods only TASAC may clear

  What it is

  Section 7(1)(a) of the 2019 Act text lists minerals, petroleum products, firearms and ammunition, live animals, fertilizers, sugar, edible oil, wheat, gas and chemicals ⁸. A TASAC page of 2 February 2023 lists arms and explosives, concentrates, mining chemicals, government trophies and live animals ⁹

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ^8,9

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 7 ^8,9

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/services/shipping-business ⁹

• Penalty for breaching the TASAC mandate

  What it is

  Fine of at least US$20,000, at least two years in prison, or both, under section 7(3) ⁸

  Issued or run by

  Courts, on breach of the TASAC mandate ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 7(3) ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tanzlii.org/akn/tz/act/2017/14 ⁸

• Shipping agency licence

  What it is

  Application to the TASAC Director General on the prescribed form with the prescribed fee. Licences cannot be transferred ⁸

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 13 ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tanzlii.org/akn/tz/act/2017/14 ⁸

• Shipping agency ownership rule

  What it is

  Applicant must be a Tanzanian citizen or a company with more than 60 percent of shares held by Tanzanian citizens ⁸

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 13(2) ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tanzlii.org/akn/tz/act/2017/14 ⁸

• Bar on clearing agents holding a shipping agency licence

  What it is

  The Director General must refuse a licence if the applicant or a shareholder is a clearing and forwarding agent, ship owner, operator, charterer or dry port operator ⁸

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 13(3) ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tanzlii.org/akn/tz/act/2017/14 ⁸

• Suspension or revocation of a shipping agency licence

  What it is

  A 30-day show-cause notice comes first. After suspension or revocation the Corporation takes over the agent's functions until the principal appoints another agent ⁸

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁸

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, section 14 ⁸

  Official page

  https://www.tanzlii.org/akn/tz/act/2017/14 ⁸

• Delivery order fee cap

  What it is

  US$15 per bill of lading, VAT exclusive, for licensed shipping agents ¹⁰

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹⁰

  Legal basis

  Local Shipping Agency Fees Order, 2023, GN 375 of 26 May 2023 ¹⁰

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/publications/tariffs-for-shipping-business ¹²

• Bill of lading fee cap

  What it is

  US$38.14 per bill of lading, VAT exclusive ¹⁰

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹⁰

  Legal basis

  GN 375 of 2023 ¹⁰

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/publications/tariffs-for-shipping-business ¹²

• Amendment fee cap

  What it is

  US$59.32 per request, VAT exclusive ¹⁰

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹⁰

  Legal basis

  GN 375 of 2023 ¹⁰

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/publications/tariffs-for-shipping-business ¹²

• Dry Port Tariff Order, 2026

  What it is

  Tariff order dated 22 September 2026, listed by TASAC. Amounts not checked for this guide ¹²

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹²

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/publications/tariffs-for-shipping-business ¹²

• Regulated maritime service providers

  What it is

  TASAC lists shipping agents, clearing and forwarding agents and consolidators or de-consolidators among the providers it regulates ¹¹

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ¹¹

  Legal basis

  Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act, Cap. 415 ¹¹

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/pages/maritime-transport-regulation ¹¹

• TASAC clearing contacts

  What it is

  importcfa@tasac.go.tz for imports, exportcfa@tasac.go.tz for exports, +255 222 127 313 ⁹

  Issued or run by

  TASAC ⁹

  Official page

  https://www.tasac.go.tz/services/shipping-business ⁹

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